Horse Jumping

[Kathos425]

I'm not sure if I'm a moron for bringing this up or if some people have never tried it but whatever. For those who don't know the space bar allows us to jump, which let's be honest, in on-foot combat, really does very little. However, while riding a horse, (a fast one that is), jumping can actually be a very helpful tool. If riding fast enough, the small rivers that would otherwise lag the horse down can actually be jumped over. Any knights in your way slowing you down with their slower horses? Going fast enough you can jump over them. Anyone else have success or failures with this?

P.S, one thing that I found out the hard way is not to jump from a high ledge. Jump from high ledge+high speeds=four broken horse legs

 

[Rando]

I like to jump over rocks when being pursued by 3+ knights. This helps cause they won't jump over so they go around and bump into each other which causes their horses to rear which then makes them easy to shish-ka-bob with my great lance. Horse jump is incredibly handy and is a must for any coucher.

 

[RJK]

the space bar allows us to jump, which let's be honest, in on-foot combat, really does very little

Actually, I use it all the time (increase vertical range, dodging lances and arrows, increasing damage, and clearing obstacles).

I notice that people (in general) often point at x and state that it has no application, when in fact it is they who have not discovered x's application.

On the otherhand, I agree with your use of horse jump. Careful though, even tiny jumps can backfire on you. Until your horse is back to running, the game appears to count that as "time in the air". So if you land on a slight incline on a bad angle, and your horse slowly slides down, it may treat that slide down as part of a really long fall and deliver 150+ damage.


RJK.

 

[JohnathanStrange]

the space bar allows us to jump, which let's be honest, in on-foot combat, really does very little

Actually, I use it all the time (increase vertical range, dodging lances and arrows, increasing damage, and clearing obstacles).

You're jumping? All the time? How does jumping "increase damage" to anyone but your character? How can one "dodge" an arrow by jumping? I've tried that and taken arrows in the chest for my trouble. What does it mean to "increase vertical range" - are you jumping & shooting arrows in mid-jump?

The only common use I've made of jumping is when my valiant warriors taking my order to "Follow me" too literally have encircled me and then I have to jump past them to get clear.

Other than that, I've seen virtually no one mention jumping as being much use at all. I've played thousands of combats, arena fights, training sessions, and jumping wasn't something useful enough to be "used all the time."


I'd say Kathos425 is right, it's not much use in combat.

 

[katank]

Rivers and rocks I use it for also.

Jumping couched lance attacks can work. Leap off a river banks and couch a bastard in the head in a river.

Makes you seem very skillful but can easily backfire if you jumped slightly wrong and cripple your horsie.

 

[n00854180t]

Jumping is great for dodging mounted attacks.

 

[Shadow Reaper]

Jumping (on foot) is brilliant to avoid horses. I've used it many times, just jump into the air and thrust at them from above.

Some may call that unrealistic, but I get so cheesed off with horses having trouble climbing hills managing to knock me down its worth it.

 

[JohnathanStrange]

Jumping (on foot) is brilliant to avoid horses. I've used it many times, just jump into the air and thrust at them from above.

Some may call that unrealistic, but I get so cheesed off with horses having trouble climbing hills managing to knock me down its worth it.

If you say so. That it can be done I don't dispute. I've done it once or twice. It's a silly thing but it can work. If you "use it many times," I suppose that would be a very interesting & potentially amusing combat to observe.

Rivers and rocks I use it for also.

Jumping couched lance attacks can work. Leap off a river banks and couch a bastard in the head in a river.

Makes you seem very skillful but can easily backfire if you jumped slightly wrong and cripple your horsie.

Well, this was with reference to being on foot

the space bar allows us to jump, which let's be honest, in on-foot combat, really does very little

Jumping over rocks and rivers? Who can argue with the usefulness of that? Not me.

My point is that even with all the comical jumping you're doing, it isn't a significant move. That you can jump, and are jumping, bravo. If jumping has suddenly become the key to use "all the time" or a "brilliant" defense against horses or something to use "many times," man, it makes me want a multiplayer game, 'cause I'd like to see that.

 

[katank]

I think we can all agree that generally it's not a good idea to jump on foot but can be very good on a horse.

If it's footman against footman, you are likely just give the other guy time to close and slash you while you are aerial.

 

[LB]

When mounted, I will jump to clear low obstacles, such as rocks, riderless horses, and my own men, in addition to leaping across streams.

Apart from that, I never touch the button.

 

[Ingolifs]

I find jumping on foot useful when i have my bow primed, i'm on foot and so's my army and my army are right in front of me. I can just jump up and shoot a perfectly aimed arrow at an approaching enemy horseman.

I also like to jump up while giving an enemy rider an axe in the teeth.

However, even though i've tried, i've never found jumping to be a good defensive mechanism. Bowmen still hit you, and swordsmen still whack your feet.

 

[JohnathanStrange]

Jumping and shooting a bow? I'm assuming you're trying to convey information rather than coming up with an isolated counter-example just to be contrary...

Ok, I surrender. If hopping around like a medieval kangaroo is a useful way to send "a perfectly aimed arrow" at the enemy, I just give up.

Game over, man, game over. You win.

Next, there will be someone else explaining how "I find twirling in a circle a kool way to mow down the enemy with my two-headed axe." but I'll stay out of it.

 

[Ingolifs]

Is there something I missed? You seem to have lost your gruntle.

Yeah, it's not realistic, and i hope they fix that.

 

[RJK]

the space bar allows us to jump, which let's be honest, in on-foot combat, really does very little

Actually, I use it all the time (increase vertical range, dodging lances and arrows, increasing damage, and clearing obstacles).

You're jumping? All the time? How does jumping "increase damage" to anyone but your character? How can one "dodge" an arrow by jumping? I've tried that and taken arrows in the chest for my trouble. What does it mean to "increase vertical range" - are you jumping & shooting arrows in mid-jump?

It is all a matter of timing.

Increasing vertical range:
Jumping helps on inclined surfaces (hills, cliffs) in order to increase your vertical reach against an opponent who is otherwise beyond your reach for that one critical moment in time.

Jumping to hit a horserider in the head can work while they are approaching, and when they are caught up in the obstacles you have set up (dismounting horses in path). Jumping helps you get in attacks when you are surrounded by your own team mates (archery and melee).


Increasing horizontal range?
When a horseman rides past you and is very nearly out of range, for some reason they will get hit more often when I am in the air than on the ground. This part may be only my experience, but my working hypothesis is that swing range is greater at a level angle rather than a 45 degree angle.


Increasing damage
Jumping gives you a speed bonus, which appears to give increased damage for both melee and archery. Unfortunately for realism, jumping has no bow accuracy penalty, but in fact increases the difficulty rating of the shot (without increasing the subjective difficulty by much).

This would mean that jumping can be utilised by those interested in trickshots: both damage and difficulty, as it can increase both, the latter artificially.


Dodging: arrows
If you time a jump correctly while approaching an archer, you can make it so they attack you while in the air, and the arrow passes over your head as you come back down. Mostly it is just luck, and something to be used in addition to the side-to-side walk to confuse an archer. You need to get a feel for it.


Lastly, it is fun as heck. You're a berserker: bodies are littered around you, and a foot soldier is approaching you. You steel yourself, taking a running start, and jump forward with your axe primed for an overhead strike. The world seems to move in slow motion, as your enemy looks up at you with a dumbfounded look. You let out a cry of victory as the axe comes crashing down on top of his head


Really it is up to the imagination of whoever is playing how to actually apply these principles to actual situations that arise in their games. It makes no difference to me if people "generally find no utility in jumping as a foot soldier", as that would make me the one with an extra tool in my belt.


RJK.

Other than that, I've seen virtually no one mention jumping as being much use at all. I've played thousands of combats, arena fights, training sessions, and jumping wasn't something useful enough to be "used all the time."

All it takes is one person to find a use for something, to make all statements to the contrary irrelevant. Further argument (as a general statement) after that point is deliberate ignorance.

 

[RJK]

Yeah, it's not realistic, and i hope they fix that.

Changes to jumping I would support:

When not moving, jumps should not be instantaneous. Rather, it should include a pause for the crouching that precedes a stationary jump.

Bow accuracy should be influenced by a jump. The accuracy could be reduced, similar to riding a horse.

Stationary jump attacks should not have a speed/damage bonus. The opposite in fact, as kinetics would be against you. You are in the air, swinging a weapon against an opponent, so what are you pushing against? Not the ground. Only your opponent, who by being on the ground is more stable than you. The horizontal component of the force exchange is exactly the same as if you did it in space (the vertical obviously subject to gravity). Hence you should be knocked backwards, thus in turn decreasing the damage of the blow (because some of the force is converted into movement for you, rather than applied to the enemy).

I've never jumped off a cliff, so I can't comment on if that does you damage. If not, it ought to. I even refuse to gallop down steep cliff faces on horseback, even though I know it is possible in the game


RJK.

 

[LB]

This part may be only my experience, but my working hypothesis is that swing range is greater at a level angle rather than a 45 degree angle.

That's common sense, really. Your weapon is the same length whether it is swung at 0 degrees, 45 degrees, or 90 degrees. The higher it's tilted up, the less reach it has along the horizontal (0 degree) plane, up to the point where it has no reach at all (completely vertical).

 

[Rock_Atanius]

Should be able to jump and role. Be able ti lie down or crouch.

 

[Stonerbill]

look i dunno about you guys but the utmost coolest move in the whole game is using a double handed sword, jumping, and doing a JK2 death from above on some lancer coming your way.

jumping is great for dodging horse attacks, and also for making combat moves look cool when you time it right.

 

[RJK]

This part may be only my experience, but my working hypothesis is that swing range is greater at a level angle rather than a 45 degree angle.

That's common sense, really. Your weapon is the same length whether it is swung at 0 degrees, 45 degrees, or 90 degrees. The higher it's tilted up, the less reach it has along the horizontal (0 degree) plane, up to the point where it has no reach at all (completely vertical).

Yup, exactly.

The reason for my doubt is that I don't know for sure if that is how weapon ranges are represented in this game. Some other games have a box around the player in which hits can be made, rather than as you have described above.

It is just my habit to avoid definitive statements when I don't know. Make that,... probably my habit.

RJK.

 

[LB]

The reason for my doubt is that I don't know for sure if that is how weapon ranges are represented in this game.

Allow me to make the definitive statement for you, then. Yes, it is.

Also, neat image.